When Caroline Cummings crossed the finish line of the 800-meter run, she couldn’t help but get emotional. The La Salle Academy senior couldn’t help but shed a few tears while embracing coach Kelly Raso on the infield after winning the race at Saturday’s Mariner Invitational.
It’s been a long road for Cummings, far too long says the Rams’ multiple all-stater, who has been dealing with iron deficiency anemia since mid December. In a race she led from start to finish, Cummings won with a state-leading 2 minutes, 16.57 seconds. While her time was nearly five seconds slower than her all-time best of 2:11.65 from last year, it didn’t matter on this day. What was more important about her performance on Saturday was that it proved she’s finally turning the corner.
After several months of uncertainty, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting a lot closer.
“(I) have been working so hard to eat the right things, take the right supplements and do everything I can to bring (my iron) back up,” she said. “It was very, very challenging to just not race well and race how I usually do for six months. I finally got to see that everything is working out and coming back up and I can start putting times out that I’m happy about.”
Prior to her effort at the Mariner Invite, the last competitive race where Cummings was running high-level times that she’s more accustomed to, was back on Jan. 20 when she finished third in the 1K at the US Army Officials Hall of Fame Invitational in New York City in a time of 2:57.85. At the indoor states this past winter, a meet in which she often competes, and scores in multiple events, she managed just a third-place finish in the 3,000m. In her only other race at the meet, she was an uncustomary 12th overall in the 600m.
“It was definitely really challenging, not being able to do what I do,” she said. “But my team, and the whole La Salle community, and my friends just outside of La Salle in the running community, coaches and my family obviously, were all just so supportive. It’s something that other people are struggling with, too. I know a few other girls that are struggling with iron deficiency. It sucks but it will come back, you just have to keep working at it.”
The all-girls meet featured a number of other top performances inside the Narragansett’s Athletic Complex.
West Warwick freshman Lisa Raye swept the hurdle events. Raye clocked a PR of 15.37 to take the 100m HH. North Smithfield’s Bethany Marsella was second at 15.90. The Wizards’ gifted underclassman came back to win the 300m IH where she was timed in another best of 45.22. Chariho’s Emily Brown was second at 49.42. Mount Hope’s Lola Silva also dipped under 50 seconds, placing third at 49.70.
Raye is picking up where she left off after an outstanding indoor campaign, one that included individual state titles in the 55m dash and 300m and new state marks in the 55m and 60m. She is currently ranked No. 1 in the 100m (12.11), 200m (25.03) and 300m IH. She’s ranked second in the 100m HH.
“I’m really excited to see what I am going to be able to accomplish during states and freshmen states,” she said.”I am just hoping to PR and run my fastest and hardest.”
The 400m proved to be no contest for Moses Brown’s Sophia Gorriaran, who won by nearly three seconds with a time of 54.95. Defending state champion Sierra Thompson of South Kingstown was second ay 57.85. In all, six runners in the field ran 1:00 or faster.
Cranston West’s Ailani Sutherland blazed to a time of 25.49 to win the 200m. The Falcons’ junior also ran legs on her team’s first-place 4x100m (48.61) and 4x400m (4:03.85) relays. Cranston West won the team title with 70 points.
Chariho’s Brooke Kanaczet utilized a patient approach to earn the 1,500m title. Kanaczet held back in the early stages of the race and came on strong in the closing laps en route to a PR of 4:51.10. Mount Hope’s Jessica Deal was second at 4:53.44. Finishing third was Portsmouth’s Allie Kaull at 4:54.62.
“It was my first time racing the 1,500 in a while,” Kanaczet said. “I was just going into it, thinking I’m just going to stay with the pack and, depending how I feel, just take off. That’s what I ended up doing when I started the second lap. The last lap I gave it all I have.”
The Chargers’ Erin von Housen was a winner in the 3K with an all-time best of 10:23.51. The talented junior forged to the front from the start and never looked back.
Lincoln’s Jillian Leahy, the No. 4 ranked hammer thrower in the country, took her specialty with a heave of 162-2. Woonsocket’s Adelaide Caron moved up to a tie for fifth in the nation with a distance of 157-4 for second overall.. Kylie Bennett also increased her ranking by taking over the seventh spot with a toss 157-2, an effort that earned her the bronze. Cumberland’s Alyssa Yankee was a double-winner, taking the shot (39-2) and the discus (124-4).
